Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley: Introduction.

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

This is going to be our nonfiction read as we read the works of Jane Austen. I will lead the discussions but as always, I look forward to the thoughtful and interesting posts from you all.

I have decided to set a rate of 2 chapters/week. I do not want to rush through the book but to take time over it and enjoy immersing ourselves in the world of Jane Austen. I hope this rate gives everyone time to fit in a little amongst the other books. It will take us into November and I think that would be a good time to end. It leaves room for anyone who needs to finish the book by the end of the year and also to introduce some Christmasy themes for December for those that have finished.

Any thoughts on that please post. We can decide later in the year.

I hope you enjoy this Jane Austen project. I am really excited about reading these things with like-minded ladies.

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Because of what is going on in the world, I have looked into the situation for people of colour in the Regency world. I came across several excellent articles.

The first link: Not sure why the author put the first part in about 'hot dukes' but the rest of the article is interesting. I thought of just copying and pasting the main part but felt it would be inappropriate so just put the link. Please ignore the hot dukes reference and enjoy the rest.

https://vanessariley.com/blackpeople.php

https://vanessariley.com/Research/Reg...

The blog below has so much information about all things Jane and I thought it might be useful to dip into as we read all her books and about her.

https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/

I am excited that we will be reading Sandition:
Jane Austen Writes about POC.

On the 27th January, 1817 Jane Austen began Sanditon, the first Regency that included, Miss Lambe, a mulatto heiress, a very wealthy mulatto heiress. Jane Austen, the patron saint of Regency Novels, was a progressive woman.

Jane Austen: Christian author:

https://www.bethinking.org/culture/ja...

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Who is joining in on this read and have you read this or an another biography of Jane before?

Sorry I haven't started the read yet. I am still waiting on my copy.

[Michaela]

Never read a biography of Jane Austen before. Couldn´t get the book at the library, so decided to buy it, so will join in later. I think it´s eight chapters per month?

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Michaela wrote: "Never read a biography of Jane Austen before. Couldn´t get the book at the library, so decided to buy it, so will join in later. I think it´s eight chapters per month?"

Yep 2 chapters/week, taking us up to mid-November. But you can read it at any pace as I am keeping threads open until end of the year.

[Michaela]

Thanks Tracey!

A lady from another group recommended Jane Austen: A Life by Carol Shields.

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Michaela wrote: "Thanks Tracey!

A lady from another group recommended Jane Austen: A Life by Carol Shields."

I have discovered that I may be reading about Jane Austen for the rest of my life lol.

[Ruth]

I am so pleased that we're reading this along side
Sense and Sensibility. I read it over 2.5 years ago
and loved the book. It was through Lucy Worsley-
an avid Janeite, that I have come to know Miss Jane
with better understanding of her and her time.
Now, in reading this, her novel serve as landmarks
in Miss Jane's life. It is so lovely to know that we
will always have the pleasure of her company.

[Ruth]

Act One
A Sunny Morning At The Rectory
I. To Steventon
To generations of Austen worshippers,
the sight of Steventon Rectory is
hallowed ground.

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Ruth wrote: "I am so pleased that we're reading this along side
Sense and Sensibility. I read it over 2.5 years ago
and loved the book. It was through Lucy Worsley-
an avid Janeite, that I have come to know ..."

I agree it is good to read them together. I have my copy now and will post on week 1 reading in a new thread.

[Brenda]

I will be joining in! The book is waiting for me at the library, but I'm waiting for the Agatha Christie to come in before I pick it up.

I'm on vacation next week (and the weather is HOT here lately average of 90F/32C + for these two weeks) so I will be inside most of the day reading!

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Brenda wrote: "I will be joining in! The book is waiting for me at the library, but I'm waiting for the Agatha Christie to come in before I pick it up.

I'm on vacation next week (and the weather is HOT here lat..."

Sounds like an excellent plan. So far I am loving the book.

[Heather]

https://play.acast.com/s/historyextra...

I really enjoyed listening to the author speaking about her book when it was published.

[Heather]

Another good watch by the author herself. She walks a tour of all the homes of Jane Austen. It really brings the book to life.


https://youtu.be/tSW4u6uA8Cw

[Brenda]

Heather -I didn’t realize she is Lucy Worsley. (The YouTube video) I’ve seen at least one other of her documentaries, which was very interesting.

[Heather]

Brenda, I had the same reaction. I had seen her discussing other historical characters, I want to say Henry the VIII. So, she must be quite the historian but a penchant for Jane!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

She does a lot of historical documentaries on the Royals, (she is the Chief Curator of the Historic Royal Palaces), but lots of others too, I enjoyed her Suffragettes one, and one on the Romanovs. One I missed but would like to read is A Very British Murder.
I'm still waiting for this book to come back to the library so I can get my mitts on it. Plenty of time though, I'll catch up.

[Helene]

Thanks for the link to the YouTube video Heather. I will watch this when I have read the book.

Want to travel back in time!

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Heather wrote: "Brenda, I had the same reaction. I had seen her discussing other historical characters, I want to say Henry the VIII. So, she must be quite the historian but a penchant for Jane!"

Thanks for the links Heather.

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

I came across this timeline of Jane's life which I thought was interesting. It puts things in context and helps to understand what may have influenced Jane's writing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timelin...

[Michaela]

Interesting, thanks Tracey!

[Elke]

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "Michaela wrote: "Never read a biography of Jane Austen before. Couldn´t get the book at the library, so decided to buy it, so will join in later. I think it´s eight chapters per month?"

Yep 2 chap..."

OMG - I just realized I own this Carol Shields book on Jane! and it's been on my shelf waiting since it came out new in 2001. about time I READ IT 🤦‍♀️
Jane Austen

[Ruth]

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "I came across this timeline of Jane's life which I thought was interesting. It puts things in context and helps to understand what may have influenced Jane's writing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki..."

Thank you, Tracey.
This helps a lot.

[Ruth]

Elke wrote: "Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "Michaela wrote: "Never read a biography of Jane Austen before. Couldn´t get the book at the library, so decided to buy it, so will join in later. I think it´s eight chap..."

Hi Elkie,
It's also on my list.

[Hon Lady Selene]

I've started this yesterday, my first book choice for this Lovely group.

Lucy Worsley is my favourite historian. Her range of study is vast and minutious, from Russian royalty to Jane, which one can really tell she loves best.

From the introduction:

"Miss Austen's merits lave long been established beyond a question; she is, emphatically, the novelist of home". - Richard Bentley, Jane's publisher from 1833.

Worsley agrees, adding "the search for a home is an idea that is central to Jane's fiction" and I can't but agree as well.

If one only looks at the timeline that Tracey kindly provided, it's rather striking how Jane moved so many times! A home for her was never a truly permanent place, even the house she was born into was not a secure location, it being a rectory in itself and she being a girl and thus never able to inherit.

Austen herself writes in letters that it is difficult for her to find the time to write, whilst having domestic duties and the house being in a state of continuous hustle and bustle, I can only empathise with her coveting her own personal, intimate, safe space where she can just be herself.

But this was a shamefully difficult feat for a woman in the 1800s.

So instead Jane put her desires on paper and gave us Readers a feel-good, yet realistic and witty portrayal of simple moments of family life: gossiping with one's mother/sibling in the kitchen or anxiously waiting for a letter (/text).

To me, Jane Austen's books are like pastoral paintings of domestic British life. I can never tire of them!

[Ruth]

Ann wrote: "But a happy home is equally as much what all of her heroines don’t have, and yet desire. All of Jane’s leading ladies are displaced from either their physical home, or from their family. Jane shows..."

Hi Ann,
This section really got to me, it's terribly
cumbersome to be at the mercy of others
and to be grateful for every given scrap.
Perceived as an inconvenience or familial
encumbrance is crushing to one's spirits,
these women will never be anything more.
Reading Mansfield Park,
the predicament of Fanny (or Jane Austen)
we are acutely aware of how life was for
them; for countless women the only
compassion they may receive is what we
offer them portrayed as these characters.

[Ruth]

Hi Ladies
Lucy Worsley has a documentary
Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors
of "Where Jane Austen Lived"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tSW4u6u...